RUSH EXCERPT:
AXELROD: “I can’t leave without asking you about the very, very powerful dissent you delivered in the travel ban case. You took an unusual step, and you insisted on reading your dissent from the bench. And it was a very, very powerful dissent. Why did you take that step?”
SOTOMAYOR: “I think that it is important for losers in a court case to know that their position has been heard. It may not win. It didn’t. But at least articulating it so others can think about it.”
AXELROD: “It was a very pointed and very passionate dissent. And I know how carefully you choose your words. And I’m sure every single word in that dissent was one you gave a lot of thought to. Why was that particular case so meaningful to you?”
SOTOMAYOR: “I think that when we have people who believe and do believe that they’ve been discriminated against in their treatment, that someone should speak their views. And speak it with real feeling. And explain it as carefully as I could, as being what is at the foundation of this country, that we don’t discriminate, that we hold precious the commands of our bill of rights. And so for me those issues are very important.”